Gilded silver dragon figures (Ren Xiao)
Unicorn equestrian ornament (Ren Xiao)
Posted on 02/27/2021 3:30:06 PM PST by SunkenCiv
In north-central Mongolia, archaeologists have unearthed two lavish tombs built for nobles of the Xiongnu Empire. A nomadic people who dominated the eastern Eurasian steppes from the third century B.C. to the first century A.D., the Xiongnu frequently waged war against China's Han Dynasty (206 B.C.– A.D. 220). To defend against these incursions, the Han built fortifications that eventually became part of the Great Wall. Both of the Xiongnu tombs, which were excavated by a team from Ulaanbaatar University and the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology, contained sumptuous grave goods. In the larger tomb, researchers found wooden boxes that held silver rings, jade belt hooks, and a pair of gilded silver dragons that may once have served as handles on a vessel. The smaller tomb contained the remains of a man buried with a horse-drawn carriage, 15 horse heads, and 19 silver equestrian ornaments, each depicting a unicorn deity. The team also recovered part of a jade-decorated sword from this grave, the first to be found in a Xiongnu tomb.
(Excerpt) Read more at archaeology.org ...
Very cool.
Tomb of the Silver Dragon? I already explored that in middle school.
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/CyAAAOSwz6RgA9zB/s-l400.jpg
While I don’t see any signs of bridle or tack
I remember seeing illustrations of Step horses
wearing unicorn like fittings.
Silver dragon
Silver Dragon
(Draco Nobilis Argentum)
Silver dragons, sometimes referred to as shield dragons,[8] were a breed of metallic dragon.[3][8]
A silver dragon enjoyed the company of humans and elves so much that it would often take the form of a human or elf and live among them for the majority of its life. However, it should be noted that silvers, like all dragons, believed themselves the most superior creatures in the world. However, apart from the ability to fly, which they enjoyed greatly, they tended to prefer the physical forms of humanoids for everyday life.[8]
Dragons and unicorns....................Maybe they weren’t ‘mythological’ after all..............
Paleontology in Greek and Roman Times
by Adrienne Mayor
foreword by Peter Dodson
[singing] it's the tomb of the silver dragons...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
